Dance as a Means to Improve Functions and Quality of Life After a Stroke

Summary

Context Dance is an intrinsically motivating activity comprising social interaction, stimulation through music, the joy of moving despite motor limitations induced by pathology, and which has good perceived benefits among participants. Moving with pleasure is essential to finding the motivation to engage in rehabilitation program and physical activity. In stroke context, physical activity and rehabilitation were difficult to carry out because of cognitive and motor disabilities. Moreover, when the rehabilitation is over, the diminishing motor stimulation gradually limits autonomy in daily tasks. It is therefore urgent to provide persons in a post-stroke situation with motivating physical activity opportunities. Very few studies have studied dance in a context of stroke, while this physical activity is highly adapted and effective for other chronic conditions.

Objectives: The main objective is to assess the effects of dance practice on cognitive and motor functions for persons after stroke. The secondary objective is to investigate the effects of dance on quality of life, motivation and adherence. The investigator's hypothesis is that the practice of dance induces an increase of balance and motor capacities, and improving the quality of life, adherence and motivation after a stroke.

Materials and method :

Forty-eight subjects with stroke in subacute phase will be randomized into two groups: 1) intervention (dance and standard rehabilitation) and 2) control (standard rehabilitation). Before intervention, stroke severity, cognitive abilities and motor capacities will be tested. Two baseline tests will occur to assess the stability of individuals will be planned. Participants will attend a dance class weekly during 6 weeks. The cognitive and motor functions (balance, lower-limbs strength, coordination and motor level), the quality of life (Stroke-specific quality of life scale) will be measured at 4 and 6 weeks in both groups. Participant satisfaction with regard to dance will be tested, as well as adherence and adverse effects.

Perspectives:

The joy of dancing and the possibility of including other non-disabled people should facilitate adherence and motivation and increase the recovery of cognitive and motor functions.This project should motivate physiotherapists and dance teachers to increase the offer of dance classes for persons with motor and cognitive impairments.This action will be a basis for combating people's sedentary lifestyle after a stroke.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

OTHER

Dance

One group will receive a 60-minute dance class weekly over a 6 weeks period. A physiotherapist - dance teacher will lead the classes, supported by at least one volunteer. The class structure will consist of five components: warm up (10 minutes), technical exercises (10 minutes), improvisation (15 minutes), a short routine (15 minutes) and a cool down/feedback time (10 minutes). Dance exercises will be targeting flexibility, balance, endurance, upper and lower limbs functions, interaction between dancers, perception and memory. Using choreography or short routine, the class will include repeating the dance moves - which fosters memorization - and also the additional challenge of remembering a sequence of moves. Given the great variability of each participant's functional ability, the complexity and the intensity of the dance exercises will progress according to each participant's capacity, in order to fulfill an appropriate challenge at moderate treatment intensity.

OTHER

Standard rehabilitation

The control group will have conventional rehabilitation as usually planned in the rehabilitation center: 45 to 60 minutes of physiotherapy per day integrating sensory stimulation, motor activation, strengthening, coordination, balance and exercise training. Patients also receive 45 to 60 minutes of occupational therapy per day.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Institution de Lavigny

  collaborator OTHER

• Anne-Violette Bruynnel

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anne-Violette Bruyneel · Haute Ecole de Santé de Genève (SchoolHSG)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

45 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-02-03

Primary Completion

2022-03-07

Completion

2022-03-07

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations